HEAD J - MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

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Head J - Ministry of Defence

The Chairman: Head J - Ministry of Defence. Mr Ravindran, you can take your two cuts together.

Defence Policy

Mr Ravindran: Sir, I beg to move,

That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Estimates be reduced by $100.

Sir, everyone takes the country's defence very seriously.

Among Singa

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poreans, defence is a subject of great concern. I am very happy that this year, the Government has decided to increase the budget allocation for the Ministry of Defence by 7.4%.

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Sir, some Singaporeans may wonder why have they increased when all other Ministries have suffered a cut in the budget. Sir, I would like to share with them what I saw recently and tell them why it is critical to be prepared when a crisis occurs.

Sir, I was part of the team of MPs who visited Aceh during the tsunami crisis. What was most impressive was our ability to bring humanitarian assistance from here to Medan, Banda Aceh and Meulaboh by air. It was also to deliver aid and other equipment by sea from our LSTs to the land, and on land, being able to travel using our own vehicles, setting up hospitals, fully-equipped, with our medicine.

One or two commanders highlighted to me that many other groups came there, but they came without the necessary equipment. They said it was no use coming there with a ship with aid, but being unable to deliver it on shore, or delivering the aid on shore and not being able to deliver it to the people who need it most.

Sir, what this highlights is that we have an SAF that has prudently thought through the process on how do we go about acquiring the equipment, how do we go about deploying these resources, and most importantly, being able to deploy it at a time when it is most needed. This can be compared with some of the comments made by some of the regional commanders in some countries. In one country, one commander commented that only 40% of their airforce is operational. In some cases,

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they have warships that were unable to sail because they did not have spare parts. In some cases, they bought aircraft which have no armaments. So it was no use flying an aircraft when you have no armaments. I am happy that the SAF has done well and has shown not only to Singaporeans, but to the whole world, that we spend our money prudently and we prepare ourselves.

So what I would like to see is that this policy of spending our money well be continued, that we continue our procurement, that we continue our preparedness and that we ensure the way we spend and prepare ourselves is continued in future.

Sir, I am very happy that our defence policy is based on two key pillars. One is defence diplomacy and the other is deterrence. Sir, I am very happy that defence diplomacy paid off even during the Aceh crisis. I notice that because of the SAF-TNI relationship, we were able to get to know the officers very quickly and assist not only our Indonesian friends, but also assist in relief effort of various other agencies.

Sir, I have heard very favourable comments, not only from TNI officers but also from other military officers with whom the SAF has interacted on how Singapore's SAF officers have gone about establishing relationship and creating better understanding, not only between the military forces of the two countries, but also within the various organisations of the two countries. Sir, I would like to see and hear from the Minister how he intends to develop this initiative in the area of defence diplomacy.

Sir, in the area of deterrence, I am very happy that we will be continuing to spend large amounts of money in procurement. I would like to also hear from the Minister how does he intend to develop our ability to deter people who

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have ill will against Singapore and also, most importantly, to ask him, in his view, what are the new threats and challenges that the SAF faces over the next few years.

Lastly, Sir, not only talking about external defence, but also looking at internal defence, how does the Minister see, in terms of preparedness, the concept of total defence? Are we still placing sufficient emphasis on total defence to ensure that internal defence is also ever prepared to meet any crisis?

Operational Readiness of SAF

Sir, we are a citizens army. In any military crisis, the SAF will make no distinction between regulars and National Servicemen. It is crucial that we have the ability to mobilise our soldiers and other resources quickly because it will give us an edge as opposed to many other countries which may take some time to mobilise their forces.

Sir, I would like to ask the Minister: how does the SAF ensure that it is always operationally-ready and not become complacent? In particular, I would like to ask the Minister: what is the track record of our mobilisation exercises, in terms of our ability to mobilise our men quickly and also other civilian resources in a crisis?

Lastly, Sir, I would like to ask whether the SAF benchmarks itself not only against regional forces, but also on an international level, and what is the standing of the SAF when we do benchmark our forces against the others.

Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, just like Mr Ravindran, I had the opportunity to visit Aceh and Meulaboh in January and saw for myself how our members of the armed forces worked very hard and worked very well in helping the people in Aceh.

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The rapid deployment of members of the Singapore Armed Forces in the days after the tsunami tidal waves has shown how quickly the SAF could be deployed to face a major disaster in peacetime. In the subsequent weeks, members of the armed forces operating in Aceh, Indonesia, had helped the residents there by first opening communication and transportation lines and then sending medical and foodstuff to them. And in the process, they also treated the injured in Aceh.

The SAF has won accolade from Singaporeans and our friends in Indonesia for the job well-done. But may I have the assessment of the Minister for Defence of the SAF's readiness in responding to that disaster? How well did we fare in the eyes of MINDEF?

Being a small citizens army, the SAF, relying on modern weapons and machinery, must be operationally-ready all the time. With the shortened National Service period, how does the SAF ensure that our National Servicemen are always ready for different states of emergency, including the threat of terrorism and other non-conventional warfare?

United Nations

Mr Chay Wai Chuen: Sir, the SAF has been involved in peacekeeping missions on several occasions, in East Timor and the Middle East, typically in the area of logistics and medical services.

I wonder whether the Minister can enlighten me on what kind of role the SAF can play in this area of peacekeeping missions. Does it mean that in the future, this is going to be a more regular feature of the SAF's role and how does it in any way affect our development as well as our doctrines? Also, I would like to find out whether the peacekeeping role that we have performed so far, how does it measure up and what is the kind of

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feedback that we receive from these international agencies?

Piracy

Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines): Sir, we have debated the issue of piracy in regional waters several times before in this House. It shows the seriousness with which we view this problem. I know that our Government is rather concerned about this problem and has since taken several measures to deal with the problem.

One initiative that the Government has taken has been to provide more coordinated patrols and to take more concerted efforts in fighting pirates and making our sea lanes safe. Sir, while I support the initiative by the Government in setting this up, the sad truth is that it appears that the problem of piracy has not gone away, for now at least.

More seafarers were murdered last year than in 2003, even though the number of attacks last year has dropped. Just last month, 10 masked pirates, armed with guns and long knives, were so bold as to board a chemical tanker underway in the Singapore straits. Although the pirates did not succeed in their mission and got away empty-handed, what it does show is the increasing audacity of the pirates, who attempt to enter our Singapore waters even though we are supposed to be safe here.

Sir, this is really disconcerting and I believe our people will be interested to know whether we will ever be able to deal effectively with the problem of piracy here. In particular, we would like to know what further measures the Government would be taking to improve security and safety in the Malacca and Singapore straits which are today known to be one of the most dangerous shipping lanes in the world. Would the Government be looking at, for instance, setting up

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organisations to provide armed escorts on a commercial basis to vessels entering our waters?

International Operations

Mr Leong Horn Kee: Mr Chairman, Sir, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has done an excellent job in its emergency relief operation in Aceh. It responded quickly and conducted the rescue and relief work before other international rescue operators arrived at the tsunami-hit areas.

The SAF performed three weeks of arduous rescue work in Aceh and other parts of the world. Like Mr Ravindran and Mr Hawazi, I feel that this House should record its appreciation to the SAF for having done Singapore proud in its rescue operation for a close neighbour.

In recent years, it is a trend for military bodies to increasingly perform non-traditional military roles such as humanitarian relief, emergency rescue operations and peacekeeping. The military training of armed forces enables us to mount a rescue operation at very short notice and to maximum effect. These actions enable non-military help to reach the affected area before the traditional relief bodies arrive at the scene to strengthen and follow up on the relief operation such as medical recovery and reconstruction.

In view of its success in relief and rescue operations in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and elsewhere, I wish to ask the Minister for Defence whether it is useful to project and remodel the SAF so that its operations can be attuned and expanded to provide assistance to major non-military rescue efforts in Singapore as well as in the region during an emergency. This would enable the SAF to be a more capable and flexible military force that can undertake both peacetime as well as wartime roles. It will also spur on the readiness and alertness of the SAF.

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I also wish to ask the Minister about the level of coordination between the SAF, MINDEF and the Police (MHA), for example, on the threat of terrorism. Have there been joint exercises conducted and any form of coordination that has been planned for the future? It would be very comforting for the people if it is known that the SAF and the Home Team can respond to a wider spectrum of unexpected events and challenges. This requires adequate forward planning, coordination and training. In fact, the ability to respond effectively to both military and non-military events is complementary. The ability to respond to a non-military threat will enhance the SAF's operational readiness. Conversely, a well-trained military will be able to react to a civil disaster quickly.

Could the Minister give us his views on the concept of the wider roles of the SAF to include preparedness for non-military purposes, both locally and in the international arena?

Relief Efforts

Mr Sin Boon Ann: Sir, I echo the sentiments expressed by my colleagues in this House on the recent efforts taken by the SAF in relation to the disaster which has occurred unfortunately in this region. The exercise undertaken has brought great pride and satisfaction to Singaporeans. Indeed, as a small country, Singapore is able to rise well above to the occasion brought on by the Asian tsunami where thousands of lives were lost.

We deployed the SAF's Chinook and Super-Puma helicopters and our aircraft flew some 250 missions, carried more than one million pounds of cargo and 4,000 people. They carried water and food to isolated survivors and even transported a mobile control tower to Banda Aceh. The relief and humanitarian effort undertaken by the SAF recently together with other similar efforts taken at various times in the past clearly

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demonstrates the changing role of the SAF as a military organisation. It appears to revolve less around the traditional military roles and more on such non-traditional roles, such as humanitarian relief, peacekeeping and peace enforcement.

The SAF has indeed done Singapore proud in the way it undertook its mission in Aceh and in other parts of the region. The question is whether the new roles undertaken by the SAF would, in the long term, bring about a refocusing of priorities of the SAF and its mission statement and also in its procurement exercise.

Review of the SAF

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: Sir, the tsunami disaster highlights an aspect of security that we need to be more prepared for, namely, the capacity of a state to cope with disasters which may challenge stability and order in the region. SAF's track record has shown that despite its small size, it could be very effective for peacekeeping, as well as emergency humanitarian relief missions in the region and in the world.

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Its recent relief mission to Indonesia, after the tsunami disaster, demonstrates not only the operational readiness of its troops but also its farsighted strategy, sophisticated planning, professionalism and precise deployment of its assets. It also highlighted how the SAF could be a force for good in the region and in the world. Often, we are asked why we need such a strong SAF, and we often say that the fundamental aim of our defence policy is to ensure that Singapore enjoys peace and stability and that Singapore's sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected. And we always stress our twin pillars of our defence policy, which is

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diplomacy and deterrence. But, increasingly, the SAF is being asked to play a bigger role in terms of peacekeeping and humanitarian and relief missions, and I wonder whether, like together with the rest of my colleagues, the SAF might want to review its priorities and expand its role.

Although our SAF did a sterling job in the humanitarian mission in Indonesia, and as the report did note that many of its troops were going in cold, with no procedures or precedents to fall back on, I wonder if the Minister could consider reviewing the force structure to see if it would be useful to have a force dedicated to humanitarian relief to support the international community's military responsibilities for the safety and well-being of people wherever they are in peril.

3G SAF

Dr Warren Lee: Sir, the nature of armed conflicts seems to be changing. As we have seen in Iraq, Afghanistan, and more regional conflicts, small numbers of well-armed individuals seem to be able to disrupt vastly better equipped forces in what has often been called asymmetric warfare. Also, the armed forces is sometimes not only called upon to wage war but is also sometimes an instrument of peace and assistance, as many Members have talked about in the recent tsunami disaster.

Even as we move into an era of low-intensity conflict and a blurring of distinction between civilians, combatants and terrorists, the conventional armed forces which rely on massing firepower and men on the ground, against fixed defended enemy positions and well-defined targets, may well find itself unable to cope with more fluid situations, where the enemy is not necessarily wearing a different uniform and occupying a different hill. As we have seen, images on a TV screen could be powerful shapers

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of public opinion, and allegation of ill-treatment of civilians and captured enemies could distort perception of who exactly is the aggressor and who is the aggrieved party. Nevertheless, conventional forces are still needed as the country would still require a visible, credible and well-equipped armed forces to deter conventional aggressors. Would we have enough people and resources to man both our conventional forces and the specialised units needed to deal with these unconventional threats? What is the SAF doing to evolve itself into an armed forces capable of dealing with these threats in a more effective way, in a time of limited resources and limitation on manpower? How could we best deploy our NS cohorts and train them to be able to effectively meet these new challenges while maintaining our competencies in conventional warfare? Have we trained our men to deal with the media war? How do we deal with the NGOs, observers and aid agencies who are often on the ground in the arena of conflict?

Dr Ong Chit Chung: Mr Chairman, Sir, much has been made of the SAF being transformed into a 3G armed forces. What we lack in space and manpower, we make up in terms of technology, firepower and mobility.

Sir, the SAF is in the process of selecting and deciding on the next generation of fighter aircraft, which will have a major impact on our operational readiness. I wish to ask the Minister whether a decision has been made on our next generation of fighter aircraft and when they will be ready for deployment.

Sir, in this IT and electronic age, I am glad that the SAF is giving special emphasis on command and control, communication network and cyber warfare. These are moves in the right direction. However, I have the following questions to ask:

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(1) Whether our ordinary National Servicemen understand and are well-trained to use technology and high-tech weapons - the best weapons will come to nought if the soldiers do not know how to apply or deploy them effectively.

(2) Have we made good provisions or measures for biological and chemical warfare or terrorist attacks?

(3) What will be our reaction if a civilian aircraft is hijacked while flying towards Singapore airspace, with some prominent Singapore landmarks or housing as potential targets?

I join my colleague, Mr Sin Boon Ann, in asking whether the SAF is operationally ready and equipped to deal with terrorist maritime attacks in the Straits of Singapore and the sea lanes around the Port of Singapore. We all know the economic importance of the port and the vital importance of the sea lanes to us.

While focusing on technology and the 3G transformation of the SAF, we must not forget or neglect strategy or tactics, or what is termed as the art of war. Would our training schools, staff colleges and top MINDEF planners be ever mindful that technology by itself will never win war or deter war? Good strategy is still the key for ultimate victory or deterrence.

Sir, the recent tsunami humanitarian rescue mission demonstrated that the SAF is operationally ready and is able to move at short notice. This is well and good. Many foreign observers are now sitting up and noticing the SAF's operational readiness and capacity. The downside is that some countries now realise that their armed forces have fallen far behind the SAF. They have waken up and decided to increase substantially their defence spending. I would like to ask the Minister whether this would lead to an arms race, with each country trying to catch up, overtake or outdo the others.

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Budget

Mr Chay Wai Chuen: Mr Chairman, there is an increase in the operating expenditure of $648 million this year for the Ministry of Defence. I would like to know what is the rationale for this increase. Of course, we know very well that overall budget has been trimmed down but, in the area of defence, I could understand that there is a fixed rate to the GDP that we worked on. But why is there such a big increase in this year's operating expenditure?

The other question that I want to find out from the Minister is this. Given the fact that SAF is our fundamental national force to safeguard our peace, how does the SAF, as an organisation, measure its cost-effectiveness in running the organisation as such. Would the Minister be able to give us some idea of what kind of KPIs or performance indicators that he has, or the SAF has, to measure its effectiveness, cost-wise?

Prof. Ivan Png Paak Liang: Mr Chairman, in summing up the debate on the Budget Statement, the Prime Minister spoke about evaluating the performance of the SAF. If we enjoy peace, is it because the SAF did a fantastic job or because it was over-provisioned? My question relates to the Prime Minister's observation. Sir, if the Ministry has to cut its budget by 5%, what would it cut? If the Ministry could raise its budget by 5%, what would it add? Would the Ministry please compare our defence expenditure with those of similarly-sized non-aligned countries, which also have enjoyed a fair amount of peace, such as the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Finland and Switzerland, on an aggregate and on a per capita basis?

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Mr Chairman, Sir, first of all, I would like to thank Members for their pertinent comments and timely questions on Singapore's defence and

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security, and for their endorsements of confidence in the Singapore Armed Forces.

In the 40 years since our independence, Singapore has made steady progress as a nation. We have been able to focus on our socio-economic development. This has brought Singaporeans a comfortable standard of living and given Singapore a certain standing in the world community. Our unity as a society, and as a nation, has been enhanced. All this has been possible because we have peace and security. That is the absolute essential foundation for our growth and progress as a nation.

The peace and security we have enjoyed is not to be taken for granted. It is also not something we can attribute to good fortune alone. Singapore has enjoyed peace and security over these 40 years because we have dedicated, year after year, much effort and resources to building the twin pillars of our defence, namely, deterrence and diplomacy, as Mr Ravindran has noted.

Sir, as the remarks of some Members suggest, it is clear that our security environment has become much more complex in recent years, and the spectrum of potential threats has expanded. The uncertainties and potential instabilities will continue to be a feature of the regional landscape. We will always need to have a military capability which can defend Singapore's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Our defence capability must also give us the confidence to assert our rights as an independent sovereign nation. With the political space to take decisions which best serve Singapore's interests, we need not feel intimidated when the regional climate turns sour, as happens from time to time, as we all well know.

Beyond that, the SAF must also be able to deal with low-intensity conflict

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situations and terrorism. The threat of terrorism continues to be real and immediate. It will not go away any time soon, as terrorist groups are unwavering in their determination to wreak havoc and destruction, Singapore continues to remain a prime target. Countering this threat requires a multiplicity of effort - by governments acting alone, and in cooperation with one another, and, as Mr Ravindran and Dr Ong Chit Chung have pointed out, by multiple national agencies bringing together the many capabilities needed to deal with the terrorists and the variety of weapons and in the various domains of land, sea and air.

Mr Leong Horn Kee has asked whether the SAF has coordinated with other agencies, such as MHA. Indeed, we have, and this is the reason why the Prime Minister has appointed Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Tony Tan, as the Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence. His main focus is actually to coordinate the various Ministries, not just MINDEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs, but also the Economic Ministries, the Ministry of Health and other Ministries, in order to make sure that Singapore is well coordinated to deal with this threat of terrorism.

Dr Ong Chit Chung has asked whether we have contingency plans for air-hijacking. Indeed, we do. I will not go into the details on what precisely we would do, but, indeed, we do have such plans, and our air defence systems are stood up, to deal with them.

We will continue to have to invest in enhancing our counter-terrorism capabilities and measures. One example includes building up a chemical, biological, radiological and explosive (CBRE) defence group to consolidate all relevant operational expertise in explosives, bomb disposal, and dealing with unconventional weapons under one roof. So we go beyond just dealing with things which

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might have already happened, but with things which might yet happen in the future. Our laboratories in our defence research institutions also have the capability to quickly test for and identify chemical and biological agents, as was demonstrated by the role they played in our fight against SARS just two years ago.

Mr Ravindran has asked about Total Defence. I think several Members - as I looked at the subjects being raised by them - have also asked about Total Defence, and we will address that point later on.

Dr Ong Chit Chung asked about maritime security, and so did Mr Sin Boon Ann. The complex nature of the new security environment is really very well reflected in the area of maritime security, particularly maritime security in the Malacca Straits. This is a matter of great concern for Singapore and the other littoral states - Malaysia and Indonesia - as well as for the user states, whose economic interests depend on secure sea lanes in this vital waterway. The user states, too, are important stakeholders and have a say. Other interested parties, such as the International Maritime Organisation and the shipping community, have also begun to focus on how security in the Malacca Straits could be enhanced.

There has been significant progress in that there is now clear agreement among regional countries and other stakeholders that maritime threats are very real and that we all need to work together to deal with them. We have made considerable progress since the discussion intensified approximately a year ago. The Malacca and Singapore Straits has been one focus area. Initiatives have been undertaken in a number of multilateral arrangements. Singapore has just co-hosted, just a couple of days ago, together with the US, a confidence-building measure (CBM) conference on Regional Cooperation in

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Maritime Security under the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)-CBM concept. This brought together 170 maritime security experts from military, enforcement, port and shipping and policy agencies of the 22 ASEAN Regional Forum member countries, to discuss ways to enhance maritime security. The Five Power Defence Arrangements (or FPDA) has also recently expanded its focus to deal with non-conventional threats, with particular emphasis on the maritime domain. The first maritime security exercise was conducted last year as part of the annual major maritime security exercise. The 22 navies of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium have also initiated substantive professional exchanges on maritime security issues and will conduct a maritime security exercise this May. All these are very positive developments which enhance confidence and build capacity. They also create a framework of inter-operability that can be useful for any future contingencies.

At sea, we have the trilateral coordinated patrols conducted by the Indonesian,

Malaysian and Singapore navies in our respective territorial waters, as well as the Singapore-Indonesia coordinated patrols, also in our respective territorial waters. The Singapore-Indonesia coordinated patrols have largely wiped out piracy incidents in the area of operations covered by these coordinated patrols since they were launched more than a decade ago. The trilateral coordinated patrols have also shown some early successes, although we have not been able to completely stop piracy incidents. But the number of piracy incidents has fallen.

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Piracy is a century-old enterprise, I might say, which will not be easily eradicated. Maritime terrorism is a more

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recent scourge. Making the seas safe for both will require the combined efforts of many countries, and Singapore is firmly committed to this. We have been playing an active role in multi-lateral forums to enhance maritime security, and we will continue to do so. At the same time, we will continue to enhance the safety and security of our own port and territorial waters from terrorist threats, building on such efforts as the Container Security Initiative and the recently announced ASSet ship escort teams. Dealing with maritime security continues to be a work-in-progress, and we will continue our efforts.

Sir, I note the many comments and queries on the operational readiness of the SAF. This has been raised by Mr Ravindran, Dr Ong Chit Chung, Dr Warren Lee, Mr Hawazi and Mr Leong Horn Kee. I would like to assure Members that the operational readiness of the SAF is a key priority. Singapore's geo-strategic situation makes us more vulnerable than most countries. Our small size means that we have no manoeuvring space and no strategic depth to fall back on. We cannot afford to sit back and absorb an attack. Besides having a good early warning system, it is imperative that our defence force must maintain high operational readiness.

The SAF structures its forces in a concept of tiered readiness. There is a high readiness core which is ready to react at very short notice to contingencies such as a terrorist attack and humanitarian assistance. Operation Flying Eagle, our relief mission after the Boxing Day disaster, was part of the high readiness core in action. Beyond this core, the SAF can call up large numbers of NS units and personnel if the situation warrants it. These NS units are well trained and operationally ready. Some components can be mobilised for action in a matter of hours while others may take a couple of days.

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The SAF has designed a system to mobilise manpower, weapons, logistics supplies and civil resources at short notice. Singaporeans are, by now, familiar with the little green man that flashes away with our regular mobilisation exercises, which continually test and sharpen the system. It is testimony to the commitment of our National Servicemen that the mobilisation response rate is consistently high - 95% or higher. In all our mobilisation exercises, the called-up units were ready for action and deployment within a few hours of being activated. We know that when the time comes to fight, the SAF may not have a second chance of a victory. That drives the rigour and realism of the SAF's training. It is not unusual for National Servicemen responding to mobilisation calls to find themselves almost immediately thrown into some kind of battle exercise. Our National Servicemen know that they will be in the frontline should the SAF ever have to go to war when that little green man ever flashes for real. We match our national service units in exercises against active units and put them through the same strenuous and demanding training and evaluation. It says a lot for the spirit and commitment of our National Servicemen that they often perform just as well and, at times, even better than active units in these exercises.

The SAF is structured and trained such that any call to action will be met with an immediate and effective response. The SAF's operational readiness was put to a real test most recently after the Boxing Day earthquake and tsunamis hit our region. The SAF's reaction was a swift one, once we realised that we could make a useful contribution to the disaster relief efforts.

Members have asked for an assessment of how we did. I think we did very well. Almost immediately, plans were drawn up and preparations underway to conduct a disaster relief mission

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and, in a way which would be most useful and effective. The SAF could respond so quickly and effectively because we had suitable capabilities and we were operationally ready. Within 24 hours, the SAF had standby teams ready for deployment. In less than 48 hours, we had sent a C-130 transport plane with relief and medical supplies to Medan, and also a team to consult with the Indonesian authorities on how the SAF could most usefully focus its assistance.

The next day, on 29th December, an advance medical team and two Chinook helicopters were deployed to Medan. On day four, we sent two Super Puma medium-lift helicopters and the rest of the medical team. Another team of two Chinook and two Super Puma helicopters and SAF personnel was deployed to a second theatre in Phuket, Thailand. On day five, just 72 hours after they were activated, the first of three helicopter landing ships, the RSS Endurance, left for Sumatra, bringing with it 470 personnel in a specially assembled disaster relief team of medical, engineering, naval and communications elements, and supplies and heavy equipment.

Over a period of three weeks after the tsunamis, the SAF deployed to Indonesia three helicopter landing ships, which meant that 100% of our helicopter landing ships were deployed, because the fourth is currently still in the Gulf protecting the oil terminal there just off Iraq, six Chinook helicopters, two Super Pumas, two field hospitals, two engineer teams with heavy equipment, two air traffic control coordination teams, a mobile air traffic control tower, and a C-130 transport plane to ferry supplies to Indonesia. Altogether, about 1,200 servicemen and servicewomen were deployed in what turned out to be largest mission that the SAF had ever undertaken.

The SAF had the right equipment for this mission but, most importantly, we

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had the right men for the mission - men and women with the professional competence, adaptability and dedication. The rigorous training they had undertaken over the years kicked in to produce a very fine execution of the mission. In a dynamic situation where information was often inadequate, our people were able to adapt quickly and frequently, so that they produced the results to make the mission a resounding success. And among those people were some National Servicemen - NSFs, NSmen and volunteers - who brought credit to the SAF with their professionalism and hard work.

While our servicemen and women did us proud, at the individual level, the sum proved to be even more than the parts. The medic in the Banda Aceh field hospital or the Chinook pilot in the air over Medan, or the naval diver on a helicopter landing ship on the coast of Meulaboh were physically far apart - hundreds of miles apart, and hundreds of miles from Singapore - but they operated as part of an integrated tri-service force. The effective execution of this mission demonstrated how far the SAF has come in its development as a joint force. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of our system-wide response, by which I mean not just the combined effort of the SAF men and women deployed in theatre, but also the technology and support groups in MINDEF, our industry partners and civil resource partners. All these components were tied together by a rigorous planning process and a tight decision-making loop.

The mission also demonstrated that the current training of our officers does equip them to work with international agencies, NGOs and the media. But we learnt some lessons as well, and the SAF will take the lessons learnt in these areas to further improve the training of our officers. This was the point that was raised by Dr Warren Lee.

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Operation Flying Eagle was a good test of our response system. The results affirmed that the resources and effort we have put into enhancing the SAF's operational readiness and enhancing our integration as a joint tri-service force have been the right investments.

Mr Chay Wai Chuen, Mr Leong Horn Kee, Mr Sin Boon Ann and Ms Irene Ng have asked whether the SAF should now redesign itself so that it can respond more quickly for humanitarian missions and whether the SAF should extend its capabilities to conduct non-military international operations such as peacekeeping; in other words, to refocus the SAF. Sir, let me state quite clearly that the primary mission of the SAF must be to defend Singapore and enhance Singapore's security. Our security is the top priority. It is the reason why we have the SAF. It always has been, and it will long be so, given our particular strategic circumstances. And that is the mission that the SAF must focus on. That means the SAF has to be structured and developed primarily to meet the range of potential threats to our security - from an assault on our sovereignty and territorial integrity, to dealing with low-intensity conflicts, to fighting terrorism.

While the SAF safeguards our national security, we are also conscious of our obligations as a responsible member of the international community and as a good neighbour and friend. Hence, we have made our contributions where SAF's capabilities could be useful, eg, humanitarian assistance disaster relief missions. These have included disaster relief operations following earthquakes in Indonesia, India and other regional countries.

The SAF has also participated in UN and other peacekeeping operations, contributing about 1,500 SAF personnel to 14 missions over the years. Members will recall that the SAF participated in three successive multi-national missions in

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East Timor with combat peacekeepers, not just logistics and medical support. We also had medical teams, of course, and headquarters staff, and an SAF officer, BG Tan Huck Gim, who was Force Commander of UNMISET. The UN knows that Singapore is unable to contribute large numbers of troops, but they do appreciate that we contribute in areas where we have niche capabilities and that we do well.

The UN's appointment of an SAF officer to lead the peacekeeping force in East Timor was testimony to the regard that the UN has for the SAF's professionalism. **** The Singapore Government will continue to contribute towards such international operations and disaster relief efforts where we find that the SAF's capabilities could be useful and where it is appropriate for the SAF to play a role.

Our recent experience in Aceh highlighted two things - military assets and military personnel are highly flexible and indeed can be used in humanitarian missions. Our LSTs, transport planes, heavy-lift helicopters and heavy machinery were of high value when they were the only things that could access the disaster zone speedily and quickly. Our search and rescue teams, combat engineers, naval divers and pilots were of high value when the tasks required their professional skills and when no one else could do them. But they are also not always the best for such missions nor should they be designed to be so. Once the emergency relief phase was over, international organisations such as the United Nations and NGOs, such as the Red Cross and our own Mercy Relief, had more relevant skills and experience. We should appreciate and understand this and, in fact, we should welcome this.

Sir, Mr Ravindran has raised the point about defence diplomacy. It has long been the focus of MINDEF to build friendship and generally develop a network of good relations with our

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ASEAN partners and friends further afield, for this enhances our security. The mutual understanding that grows out of increased interactions reduces the risk of misconceptions and miscalculations and enables more substantive and effective cooperation when that is called for. The friendship that the SAF has cultivated

with the TNI over the years greatly enhanced the effectiveness of the SAF's disaster relief mission in Aceh. The cooperation and collaboration that follow from defence diplomacy are other tangible payouts that both sides can reap.

5.45 pm

The SAF benefits greatly from its exercises with friendly armed forces. The training tempo is high. Members may not realise how frequently we train with other countries. Last year, the SAF conducted about 70 exercises with over 20 armed forces, that is, an average of nearly 1.4 exercises per week with other countries. They are both bilateral and multilateral exercises. All three SAF services - the Army, Navy and Air Force - exercise with their foreign counterparts. The overseas exercises allow the SAF to train in a wide variety of challenging and realistic operating environments, as well as to benchmark itself against other armed forces. And as some Members asked, the SAF generally does do quite well. Such exposure helps sharpen our professional skills and operational readiness. For the SAF, the training access that has been offered by so many of our friends has been of great value, given our land and airspace limitations. Today, the SAF trains in almost a dozen countries on a regular basis. Defence diplomacy has also helped us to secure defence technology collaboration with a number of countries with advanced defence technology, including the US, France, Israel and Sweden.

MINDEF and the SAF will continue to work on expanding our circle of friends

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while strengthening each valuable relationship that we have. In my recent travels, I found considerable interest in engaging Singapore and the SAF. In Japan, for instance, I had a substantive dialogue with Japanese leaders on several security issues which reflected considerable common perspectives and a potential for more interactions and deeper engagement. I was recently in Bahrain, and there was also an interest in increasing defence interactions with Singapore. I shall be going to India shortly, in two weeks' time. Singapore and India signed a defence cooperation agreement in 2003 to underscore the commitment of both sides to strengthen defence cooperation. I look forward to discussing with my counterpart there on how we can expand our cooperation further.

Sir, MINDEF and the SAF will continue to place a premium on maintaining a high state of operational readiness and expanding our international ties through defence diplomacy. The evolving security environment and changing nature of warfare demand that we develop our other capabilities that leverage on technology so that we remain prepared and will continue to have high operational readiness in the years ahead - 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. More than ever before, we need to equip ourselves with military capabilities that can respond to a complex and unpredictable security environment with flexibility and innovation. To prepare for the future, MINDEF and the SAF are on a journey to transform our military forces into the third generation (3G) SAF. Dr Ong, Dr Warren Lee and Mr Leong Horn Kee have asked about these transformation efforts. This journey has many dimensions. These include developing new operating concepts, reshaping the force structure and developing our people. MINDEF has developed a blueprint and action schedule for the

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development of the 3G SAF. This includes the sorts of capabilities that Dr Warren Lee asked about, for dealing with urban warfare, terrorism and asymmetric warfare.

As we crystallise the developmental framework for the 3G SAF, we are conducting parallel efforts to experiment with new technologies and test prototype systems in field exercises. For example, during a recent SAF exercise conducted in Australia, we deployed a prototype lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, which DSO National Laboratories had developed. The UAV was able to provide live video of the opposing force to our troops on the ground so that troops at the lowest tactical level could see clearly how the enemy was deployed and track their movement in real time. With this significant advantage, our force's decision cycles were shortened and simulated weapons were delivered to the targets in a timely manner and with great accuracy. In the same exercise, the SAF adapted commercial off-the-shelf wireless technology to allow the operational headquarters, which is usually a large and unwieldy collection of people, vehicles and communications, to be dispersed. Headquarters, as Members know, are high value assets and by dispersing the HQ over a large area, we could reduce its signature and vulnerability to enemy detection and attack and, also, speed up the rate at which it can be redeployed.

We have deployed some of the 3G SAF capabilities in actual operations. In the operation in Aceh, the SAF deployed high bandwidth communications in the different locations in Aceh. These systems were adapted from the Defence Science and Technology Agency and industry at short notice. The high bandwidth satellite communications significantly enhance the SAF's command and control capability. Operational discussions were conducted through video conferencing in real time, and this enabled

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the SAF to respond quickly to the operational requirements.

While the 3G SAF will be a more formidable and operationally ready force that is enhanced by technology, it will always be the soldier, sailor and airman who will ultimately make the difference. Fundamental to the 3G SAF soldiers are the values that are imbued in generations of the SAF - loyalty, commitment, courage, professionalism. The 3G SAF soldier will also be developed to be professionally and technically competent to operate and exploit the full capabilities of the new weapons and systems.

Dr Ong has asked whether our soldiers, especially our National Servicemen, are capable of doing this. We are fortunate that we have a technically literate population, both of National Servicemen and operationally ready National Servicemen, and they are very highly motivated to learn new things. We have no difficulty with them. Overall, the development of the 3G SAF soldier is a key component of the transformation of the SAF.

Sir, the Government has been unwavering in giving defence expenditure the highest priority. We have given our commitment that MINDEF can spend up to 6% of our GDP each year on defence. We have been spending between 4.5% and 5% over the past few years. This steadfast and prudent approach has served us well. We are able to take a long-term view of our defence needs and force planning and build a defence capability that gives us the best value for the resources that we have invested. As a result, we have a defence force capable of meeting its mission, which is to deter aggression and to secure a swift and decisive victory should deterrence and diplomacy fail.

On a technical matter, Mr Chay Wai Chuen asked why our operating expenditure has gone up. I should explain

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that the operating expenditure reflected in the Budget book reflects the total expenditure on the SAF which includes, what you normally call, "operating expenditure", but it also includes things like training, pay and emoluments for SAF servicemen and reservists, as well as capital expenditure on the SAF. So it is not just all operating expenditure.

Prof. Ivan Png asked how MINDEF would change its expenditure should the budget be raised or cut by 5%. MINDEF takes a very careful and considered approach in drawing up the defence budget and we would not spend more money just because money is available. Similarly, we would not cut spending hastily so that the capabilities and operational readiness of the SAF are compromised. MINDEF's budget is drawn up based on what is needed to enable the SAF to carry out its core mission of defending our nation in the current situation and, also, in the years to come. MINDEF's budget is put through a rigorous process and scrutiny every year. Priorities are established by the joint staff in conjunction with the services in a process where the different planning agencies test their plans and ideas against each other. So, there is always a contest of ideas, and this 5% up or 5% down question is continually being asked, not just on the total defence budget but parts of the defence budget. The budget plans and priorities are again scrutinised by MINDEF staff before they are approved each year. But beyond assessing the question of what MINDEF would do with the budget at the margin - 5% more or 5% less - at least once every five years, MINDEF carries out a thorough review and reassessment of our long-term force structure needs. So it is more than a 5% either way kind of assessment, but a fundamental rethink of what we would need for our defence in the future.

The transformation to the 3G SAF is the outcome of the most recent such

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review. To actualise the 3G SAF, MINDEF has created various structures and processes to ensure that we are able to explore new ideas and concepts and are not trapped in conventional thinking that may no longer be relevant. For example, we now have a separate group, called the Future Systems Directorate, to challenge the conventional wisdom, and to study and test new operational concepts and systems that will give the 3G SAF a quantum improvement in capability to operate in a completely different way. The 3G SAF will involve a fundamental and far-reaching transformation of the SAF in the coming decade, and building the 3G SAF is the major focus of our defence expenditure in the coming years.

Meanwhile, we will continue to ensure that we extract the best value for money for our ongoing programmes. Dr Ong asked about the progress of the Next Fighter Replacement Programme. Some Members of the House might have read in the last day or so, reports in the media about how some of the suppliers found Singapore's tender one of the hardest that they have had to work on. This shows how, as is MINDEF's usual practice, we are very thorough with our evaluation and how we make sure that the aircraft that is eventually selected will give the RSAF an edge, and delivers the most combat power for money over the aircraft's life cycle. There have been some media reports, also, that we have delayed the programme. This is incorrect. But our robust and thorough evaluation means that we have not awarded the contract as quickly as some might have hoped for. We are not in a hurry. We are coming to a final decision over the next few months.

I would, therefore, like to assure Mr Chay and Prof. Png that MINDEF places heavy emphasis on cost effectiveness and maximising our defence capability from

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each defence dollar, not just in the immediate timeframe, but also in the long term. Prof. Png has also asked for comparisons between Singapore's defence expenditure and those of a range of similarly sized countries. From a purely numerical point of view, an analysis of the numbers along the lines that Prof. Png has requested is not difficult to do. All one needs is a calculator and a copy of The Military Balance - an annual publication of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The bald numbers are there. But the point is that such numerical comparisons on their own are not particularly useful. These countries are a diverse lot. Some have not faced any serious threat or conflict for decades, others live in constant fear of invasion; some have mountains or large tracts of land to buffer them, others have little or no strategic depth; some believe in being self-sufficient and providing for their own defence, others have decided to place their defence and, hence, the fate of their countries in the hands of others. So there are many different strategies and approaches that different countries take to their defence needs and how they provide for them. So a bald comparison of the numbers really is not particularly instructive.

There are many pertinent factors to consider, including history, geography, demography. What is important for us to know is that we have decided that we must provide for our defence, for if we are not prepared to defend ourselves, we cannot expect anyone else to do so on our behalf. This is a bitter lesson that our fathers and grandfathers learned in the past. Providing for our own defence allows us to chart our own course as an independent sovereign nation, without having to buckle under pressure from larger states, or to become subservient to their strategic imperatives.

Sir, the SAF's work in Operation Flying Eagle demonstrated its operational

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readiness and its ability to respond effectively when the need arises. The sustained attention to operational readiness and capability development for the long term, the ongoing build-up of our network of defence relations - these must continue to be the focus of MINDEF and the SAF. Beyond these current requirements, the long term planning and force structuring are just as important if we are to have a defence capability to ensure Singapore's security into the future and continue to give our people and foreign investors confidence. We must always make sure that our investments in defence

and the SAF give us the capabilities to respond swiftly and decisively against any threat to Singapore's peace and security.

6.00 pm

Mr Leong Horn Kee: Sir, I would like to ask the Minister, since he has been praising the SAF in its role in the tsunami disaster, how his Ministry intends to recognise or reward the good performance of the SAF and ancillary personnel who were involved in the operation called "Flying Eagle" in the tsunami disaster. It is not just in monetary terms. I was thinking more in terms of honours, such as badges or National Day Awards, as we have always said that they have done us proud.

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Sir, the SAF, as with other agencies which have sent people for the tsunami relief effort, is making a recommendation to have medals and other awards for this purpose which will be awarded to the people who took part in this operation.

Dr Ong Chit Chung: Sir, I want to ask the Minister whether he cares to comment on the prospect or possibility of an arms race in Southeast Asia.

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Sir, my apologies to Dr Ong for not having addressed that question.

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Sir, each of the countries in Southeast Asia provides for its own defence, and we subscribe certainly to this concept of national resilience for the purpose of regional resilience. This is a concept which is most ably espoused by Indonesia. We do not believe that there is an arms race in progress. Each of the countries in Southeast Asia provides sufficient capability for its own defence, and I think that every country continues to intend to do so. This is good for stability.

Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar): Sir, could the Minister inform this House on the total cost for the whole duration of the deployment of SAF in Indonesia for the recent tsunami effort? Could he also respond to the comment that the SAF has gained a lot of experience and practice from this tsunami relief effort? Has this deployment honed the SAF's capability even further and, if so, in which areas particularly?

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Sir, the total incremental cost of the deployment of the SAF for the missions, both in Indonesia as well as in Thailand, and several other ancillary activities that we carried out, including ferrying supplies from Jakarta to Medan and Banda Aceh, was about $20 million.

The SAF learnt many lessons from this operation. We are digesting them and seeing how best we can transmit them to the rest of the SAF. Certainly, some of our skills were honed. New skills, which we have not had a chance to practise in many situations before, such as working with many of the humanitarian assistance NGOs, in Aceh particularly, and I must say that there were very many of them, each with a very different way of working. It was a very enriching experience for our people on the ground. This was a new experience and this is something which our people have taken away with them.

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Certainly, it has also given the SAF soldiers who took part in the operation a great deal of confidence in their own capabilities and the capabilities of their equipment and in the capabilities of their commanders. And this sense of confidence has also flowed into the rest of the SAF.

Dr Ong Chit Chung: Sir, I am sure all agree that SAF did very well during the tsunami mission. But there are some people in Singapore who spoke to me and said that we sent so many ships, helicopters, men and equipment, and they were worried that Singapore's own defence would be weakened and, in an emergency, we might not be able to cope. Would the Minister care to comment?

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Sir, I must say that I really like those instincts. Those people who feel that way have the right instincts that we are always watchful and careful, that we should take care of our own defence. I can assure them that when we deployed these particular assets for the humanitarian relief mission, we were mindful that we could take care of any other contingencies that might arise in Singapore.

Training Safety

Dr Warren Lee: Sir, the SAF has come up with an excellent booklet called "Defining Moments". In this book, which is a collection of essays from one of the previous year's Chief of Army's essay competitions, servicemen, both NS and regular from the rank-and-file up to General Staff level, related incidents and encounters during their time as citizen soldiers that have shaped their lives and beliefs, and their ideas of what it means to be a leader and what it means to be a Singaporean. It is an excellent book. It actually contains very inspiring accounts by people who had chased robbers, even a PES-E serviceman clerk, commandos

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and so on. And it underlines what the Minister has just told the House earlier that, at the end of the day, it is the soldier on the ground that makes the difference. This confirms what I have always held dear, that the NS experience is really very, very important in terms of our nation-building.

However, I think we also do have another group of memorable moments that some of our soldiers would rather forget, although some actually do wear these moments with pride. This refers to the recent case of deaths during unauthorised training. After those reports came out in the newspapers, some other NSmen recounted to me that they too had either experienced or witnessed instances of unauthorised training methods and punishments. These just never made the news. I was glad that many of these incidents were recounted as being of the distant past, and I was very happy that there were no recent incidents recounted. Yet, perhaps, our citizens would like to be reassured that the SAF of today is serious about training, but also takes good care of its citizen soldiers by modern methods of risk management and risk mitigation, so that training is both realistic and as safe as it can be, given the nature of the tasks at hand.

Another topic that somehow refuses to go away is also the doubts that still exist in the minds of some Singaporeans regarding the treatment of soldiers classified as being "White Horse". Sir, Singaporeans are so used to the fact that in Singapore you do your National Service, whether or not you are the son of the rich and powerful, that we often do not realise that our egalitarian system is not that common around the world. In this respect, perhaps we are more akin to maybe the British tradition where the sons of the royal houses have taken great pride in doing their share in the armed services.

The Chairman: Dr Lee, can you wrap up your point, please?

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Dr Warren Lee: Yes. While many people focus on perceived cushy treatment, most of them understand the need to ensure fairness for these soldiers, to stop the gossip about unfair treatment when they have genuine medical problems that need downgrading.

The Chairman: Dr Lee, can you put your question, please?

Dr Warren Lee: Sir, I seek the Minister's clarification and assurance that the training, postings, risks and opportunities for the rich and famous are the same as those for everybody else.

Thank you for your indulgence, Sir.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: Mr Chairman, Sir, the conclusion of the trial of the four SAF officers who were responsible for the death last year of NS Sergeant Hu Enhuai brought to a close a tragic and sad chapter in the history of the SAF.

As a highly professional body charged with the heavy responsibility of training our young citizens in the defence of our country, the SAF must continually ensure the safety of our NSmen during their training. In a way, it is, if I may say so, fortunate that major incidents like the dunking incident and the accident involving the RSN Courageous are probably few and far between. Nevertheless, one high profile incident, even if it is a rare one, is enough to send the chills down the spines of servicemen and their parents. Still, there have been other incidents in past years, whether due to human error or faulty equipment, to merit this ever lingering concern. One single life lost, as we all know, is a loss not just to the families but as well as for the nation.

Following the three training-related deaths last year, the SAF set up the 24-hour safety hotline. This is a welcome move. I understand that there have, however, not been many calls to this

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hotline. It means probably that, by and large, there are not too many safety issues in the SAF. But we need to encourage the servicemen to report safety breaches without fear of upsetting their superiors. We need to assure all servicemen that all such feedback will be investigated in an open and transparent way without fear of reprisal.

In a way, training safety is a thorny issue. We must ensure no harm befall our servicemen, yet we cannot compromise on standards of training. We need to push our men to the limit so that they know what it is like to operate in a hostile environment. Their endurance and resistance to difficult and dangerous environment have to be tested so that they become good and tough soldiers as well as strong leaders.

Sir, the SAF can take two measures to ensure safety.

Firstly, it must be vigilant in its audit of training procedures to ensure proper compliance. Sir, the investigation into the dunking incident last year revealed that serious deviations from proper training measures had in fact taken place for some time.

Secondly, the SAF must ensure that instructors and those supervising them are properly selected and are fully aware of their responsibilities, have the right skills and, most importantly, the right psyche to train our servicemen.

I would, therefore, like to urge the Minister to continue to assure all NSmen and their families that safety is always a priority in their training.

Dr Ong Chit Chung: Sir, we know for certain that the SAF takes its training very seriously. Over the years, SAF conducts full-scale exercises with live ammunition, be it a battalion live-firing, tank live-firing, air bombardment, artillery live-firing or

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missile tests for our naval ships. It is, therefore, paramount that we give the highest emphasis to training safety. Every time there is a training accident or mishap, our hearts sink, because our National Servicemen are our own sons and family members. Each incident is a tragedy. Despite our best efforts, incidents do happen from time to time and, at times, there are abuses, as described earlier by Mr Tan Soo Khoon, during training that lead to tragic loss of lives.

I would like to ask the Minister whether MINDEF continuously reviews the training methods and tightens up on safety measures, and whether better systems of checks and audits are in place, and adequate manpower is being deployed to ensure safety in training. May we know whether the service inspectorates, including the General Staff Inspectorate, have been strengthened to conduct surprise checks, not just routine checks, to ensure that the safety measures are applied strictly, and thus help to weed out any potential abuses?

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Sir, the views and concerns expressed by Dr Warren Lee, Mr Tan Soo Khoon and Dr Ong Chit Chung on training safety are well placed, and I wholeheartedly agree with them, given that every Singaporean has a close relative or a friend who is a National Serviceman in the SAF. I would like to reiterate the assurance I gave Parliament last year. The SAF will train our servicemen hard and train them realistically for the defence of Singapore, but we will never compromise on safety nor risk the lives of our servicemen during training.

6.15 pm

I had reported at the Committee of Supply debate last March

that the SAF had completed a full review of its training safety system. The review affirmed that we had a strong system to support

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training in terms of robust safety structures, processes and procedures. But we also recognised that a strong safety culture is very important if the safety system is to be effective. Hence, a key focus area of the SAF's efforts to improve training safety has been to foster a safety culture, with an emphasis on openness and command responsibility. Safety hotlines have been installed in all three services to encourage feedback, as Mr Tan Soo Khoon has reminded us. We also thoroughly investigate not only accidents but also near-accidents. The requirement to report and analyse all such incidents - actual accidents and near-accidents - sustains safety awareness and fosters the safety culture we want in the SAF.

It is an ingrained safety consciousness that we want to develop in all our commanders and men. It has to go beyond merely complying with safety regulations and doing safety checks. Sir, we spoke about Operation Flying Eagle earlier. The SAF was deployed for over two months. We had 1,200 men and women operating on the ground, in the air and at sea, often in challenging conditions and at a high operational tempo, mounting quite complex operations. I am glad to say that there was a strong safety culture at work and no one sustained an injury more serious than a dislocated shoulder and none of our vehicles, ships or aircraft was involved in any accident.

Sir, I had reported last March that the SAF had stepped up senior commander visits and audits by the service inspectorates, and that the Army, Navy and Air Force would also be reinforcing their inspectorates and safety sections with more staff. I also told Members that the SAF would benchmark its safety standards against those of other armed forces and look into engaging external safety auditors to further improve training safety. I would like to update Members on developments in these areas.

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The SAF has brought more staff into the service inspectorate teams, and these teams now conduct more frequent audits on units all year round and they do include surprise checks. There is now more timely identification of trends and prompt intervention and analysis, and the lessons learnt are proliferated across SAF formations, through seminars, briefings, publications and so forth. SAF formations have also been boosted with the introduction of Formation Safety Warrant Officers, who have vast training experience and can share their knowledge of safety and risk management with younger ground commanders. This also gives Formation Commanders more capacity to raise the level of training audits and conduct more inspections of ground units.

Sir, Dr Warren Lee has asked about whether we use scientific methods for injury prevention and for making sure that our training is progressive. The SAF closely tracks all matters related to training injuries. I give you an example, say, from heat injury. Whenever there is a hot spell, G6-Army will send out a Training Instruction to all units to remind ground commanders to be more vigilant for heat injury symptoms and to follow the hydration regime closely. The higher awareness of heat disorders and knowledge of measures to prevent them led to a marked reduction of SAF heat injury cases in the first half of work year 2004/2005 compared to the corresponding period in the previous work year. The number of cases went down from 25 to nine.

The Army has also carried out a series of benchmarking exercises to compare and learn from the best practices of its sister services and foreign armed forces. For example, the Army has been looking at physical fitness training and how to make physical fitness training more progressive for many, many years. The latest of these efforts - the Army sent a

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study team which visited the US Army Physical Fitness School last year and they found that their programme for raising the physical fitness of their recruits was progressive, scientific and holistic. The Army used this as a basis to conduct a three-month trial in 3SIR and found it effective in lowering training injuries while maintaining a high physical fitness standard for our recruits. The PT for recruits has since been modified along these lines. And as Mr Tan and others have pointed out, this is very important because we do not have very many people. And if we lose people to injuries, we also lose them for training and we are unable to develop them and train them as well as we can during the short period of full-time national service that we have. And also if we recall them back for ICTs and they become injured, they are also unable to complete their ICTs if they are unable to recover from their injuries in time.

To improve its safety management system, the Army sent the General Staff Inspectorate (GSI) to visit the UK's Army Land Accident Prevention and Investigation Team to benchmark against its safety practices. The GSI will shortly also be visiting the Australian Army's safety establishment. Such exchanges help raise the awareness and professionalism of our safety practitioners.

Dr Warren Lee has asked about whether the training, posting, risks and opportunities during National Service are the same for everyone, regardless of his family background. Mr Chairman, this is indeed so, and there can be no other way of doing this in our SAF. The SAF is our army, it is a citizen army, and the training, posting, risks and opportunities for NS soldiers are there for everyone to see. There is nothing to hide and you cannot hide it. The commanders see it, their colleagues and their peers see it, and their subordinates see it. If the system was not fair, open and above board, and

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meritocratic, support for National Service would soon evaporate and would have long evaporated. That support for NS remains high even after more than three decades is proof itself that the integrity of the system has been maintained.

Sir, it is important to remember that the SAF has to train our people as they will fight. We will not let up on hard and realistic training, for the harder and more realistically we train our men, the more likely they are to fight well and survive on the battlefield. The training must also be conducted professionally and safely. MINDEF therefore constantly aims to strike the right balance between training realism and safety. The SAF takes all the safety precautions and measures feasible to minimise risks. We expect the highest level of professionalism from our officers and men when they conduct training. Sir, parents entrust their sons to the SAF to prepare and train them to perform a national duty in the defence of Singapore. This is a heavy responsibility that MINDEF and the SAF do not take lightly.

Sir, I wish to assure all Members that we will not compromise on safety.

Dr Lily Neo: Mr Chairman, may I ask the Minister whether the deceased SAF servicemen's families will be compensated for the loss of their children during training in SAF?

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Mr Chairman, Sir, yes, they are.

Defence Technology and Industry

Mr Ravindran: Sir, when the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) was set up, one of the concerns that I highlighted was who would audit the DSTA. The House was given the assurance that the committee that oversees the DSTA will report to a

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committee headed by the Prime Minister, and I was satisfied with the answer.

But what I would like to share with the House today is that DSTA must have done a lot of research and development (R&D) work, and I would like to ask the Minister, firstly, whether he is satisfied with the achievements of the DSTA over the last three years. Secondly, with regard to some of the projects that have been undertaken by the DSTA, have they developed to a stage where some of them can be commercialised, so that we not only develop a technology that is merely kept within the military, but is also shared with the commercial world. And something that can be commercialised will mean that it can also bring some revenue to DSTA.

The third question that I would like to ask the Minister is whether there is an exchange of ideas and research with the educational institutions and businesses, not only locally but also with other countries which have similar facilities in research and development in the military field.

Dr Warren Lee: Sir, Singapore seems to have a multitude of agencies and institutes loosely connected with our Armed Forces, such as Singapore Technologies' group of companies, our local defence industries, Defence Science and Technology Agency and Defence Medical Research Institute (DMRI). How do these agencies contribute to our total defence effort? Are they just doing basic research? Could the resources that they consume be better used to buy proven off-the-shelf hardware in the international market?

In the case of DMRI, how has the Institute contributed to the effort on combating SARS, bird flu or bio-terrorism? Are we better able to combat dengue and malaria in our population because DMRI exists?

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Sir, the Asian body frame is smaller than its western counterpart. The diseases and environment we face in Singapore are also different. Can DMRI help make lives easier for our soldiers by helping to design equipment more suited to our people? How can we leverage on the technological advantages that these agencies might be able to provide to overcome our disadvantages as a small densely populated island nation? Are we able, as Mr Ravindran has said, to spin off some of the knowledge from these defence-related research bodies into commercial applications so that our economy can also benefit?

I hope the Minister can enlighten us.

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Holland-Bukit Panjang): Mr Chairman, Sir, today many countries face both conventional and non-conventional threats in their national defences. In Singapore, our SAF is tasked to defend our sovereignty and has always strived to improve our defence capabilities. Besides developing capabilities in conventional warfare, we must also identify new and suitable defence technologies to strengthen our non-conventional warfare capabilities.

For example, terrorist, chemical and biological threats will pose new challenges for us to overcome these threats in our built environment. Therefore, defence technology has become increasingly important in strengthening our defence capabilities. Sir, with the rapid urbanisation of cities, the use of technology for fighting in built-up environment will play a more significant role in the future. Therefore, we must enhance our built-up defence or fighting capabilities by introducing advanced communications systems, thermal scanners, laser tracers or precision weapons.

Sir, as Singapore apportions a sizeable proportion of our budget for defence, we need to apportion carefully our investment

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in defence technology for both conventional and non-conventional threats. Ideally, we should invest in technology that will prepare us for conventional, non-conventional threats as well as relief operations during peacetime. One good example is the use of helicopters with different fighting capabilities and carrying capacities that allow flexible deployment in all situations.

Another example will be the use of naval ships for waterways defence as well as sea surveillance or relief operations. Even simple technology like the thermal and radiographic scanners can serve as a line of defence against SARS or disease outbreak and, at the same time, they can be used commercially to prevent human and goods trafficking. As such, conventional and non-conventional threats have created more opportunities for the use of technology in different situations, thus increasing the commercial viability of defence technology.

Sir, today, defence technology, such as communications system, information system, electronic system, remote control system and radar system, can be commercially applied in various business operations. Thus, there are lots of potential to develop the defence technology industry in Singapore. But we must first attract a critical pool of talent to conduct R&D in defence technology. More scholarships should be awarded to encourage more Singaporeans to join our defence science organisations and Defence Science Technology Agency. We should also allocate more resources to spearhead strategic defence technology's R&D projects. Second, we must provide more flexibility to market non-sensitive defence technology.

Sir, I wish to seek the following clarifications from the Ministry: first, how does MINDEF adopt various technologies to further enhance our defence capabilities? Second, what are the R&D

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efforts and achievements in defence technology?

And, third, are there plans to develop a defence technology industry?

Offset in Procurements

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Mr Chairman, Sir, the Minister spoke earlier about the rigorous selection of our next generation fighters for the SAF. I wonder whether MINDEF would ask for industrial cooperation in the procurement of its next generation fighters.

6.30 pm

Sir, MINDEF used to include industrial cooperation in its defence procurement in the past. Suddenly, several years earlier, it seems to have abandoned the practice altogether. I understand MINDEF's position is that offset is a very expensive way of paying for something that is not very useful. I would like to ask the Minister how did MINDEF come to this conclusion. What were the lessons learned by MINDEF? Has MINDEF studied how other developed nations, such as UK, Belgium and Finland, practise their offset programme? And if our experience has been poor, perhaps it could be that we have not learned the trick of the trade. From the table I circulated earlier, Sir, it seems that some of these countries manage to leverage $1 of offset for every dollar spent with an incremental cost of only 3%. From a national perspective, it might be argued that it is really worthwhile to impose offset on major weapon procurement.

Sir, in the other countries that practised offset, offset benefit programmes are extended to the whole economy, including products and services from the domestic economy. In the advanced countries, with a long history, their Ministry of Defence is the lead agency, and in those nations, quid pro

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quo has always been the norm. For others, the lead agency tends to be the one involved in economic activities. For instance, in the Netherlands, it is the Ministry of Economics, in Finland it is the Ministry of Trade and Industry. If MINDEF has found it unable to gain much out of industrial cooperation, did it work with other economic agencies of our Government in the past, to leverage its huge defence procurement?

Sir, in the upcoming procurement of the next generation fighters, I believe the F15 is one of the candidate fighter planes. I understand that South Korea has also recently concluded a fighter vendor selection, and the tie-breaker in that selection, in favour of the winner, the F15K, was, indeed, the offset programme offered by Boeing. Sir, we are spending a substantial amount of our national budget acquiring this next generation fighter. If through offset we could create a flowback to the local economy, it would be a great benefit for our economy, which is at the moment sputtering only on a few engines, and not all engines are firing.

I understand, Sir, that it is not the role of MINDEF to look out for economic problems in our nation in its weapon procurement. Its job is actually, as the Minister said, to get the best weapon at the cheapest possible price. However, MINDEF's expenditure is a high percentage of our budget, and is close to 5% of GDP. If there is a chance that offset could help, I think it is only appropriate that the Minister takes into consideration the benefit of such a programme.

With structural unemployment becoming ever difficult to solve, I am making a plea that the Minister considers using this programme to help to create some flowback. My question to the Minister is whether MINDEF would explore the use of the offset, together with MTI and MOF, in the upcoming

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tender for the next generation fighters, if the incremental cost of a properly structured offset programme is, indeed, only 3% for a cost-benefit ratio of one, as claimed by some offset experts.

National Service

Mr Leong Horn Kee: Mr Chairman, Sir, both my son and I had done our full-time National Service. And we had done it proudly. Like any Singaporean parent, I found National Service to be a good exposure and experience for my son. He had the opportunity to live and work closely with his fellow NSmen and underwent physical endurance regimes which toughened his body and soul.

However, it could not be denied that NSF is a sacrifice, though a necessary sacrifice, of some two years of a person's life for the country. Therefore, we are very pleased that the Defence Minister announced the cutting short of NSF period for corporals and above, from 2 1/2 years to two years. I wish to ask the Defence Minister: what has been the experience of the SAF with the shorter NSF period? Do the two years of full-time training period provide sufficient time for adequate training of SAF officers or specialists? In addition, has the implementation of the 3G SAF progressed well? What has the SAF done to deploy better weaponry so as to enable our soldiers to be more effective as a fighting force? What are the new initiatives that would enable SAF NSmen to be a more potent combat unit?

Sir, on the shortening of the half year for the NSF period, our NSmen, who are seeking to enter tertiary education, would save at least half year of their life. Hence, I wish to ask the Minister whether his Ministry has been able to coordinate with the Ministry of Education such that the shorter half year of NS obligation could be converted into an earlier entry to the tertiary education. For example, now the "A" level students finish their

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examinations in November, but the universities, for example, NTU, only starts in July. So there is a gap of at least 6-8 months before they could enter the university if they do a full-time two-year National Service.

I would also like to ask the Minister to be more liberal to allow NSmen early disruption of their NS for, say, up to three months, if they have to obtain entry into a local or overseas university. This would enable them to save up to nine months of waiting time for the next academic term. If they are allowed to have early disruption, they could return to complete their NS obligation during their vacations.

I hope the Minister would consider these suggestions.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Ayer Rajah): Sir, with globalisation, many Singaporeans are travelling more, and some even residing longer in the countries where they do business. So we could see many of our Singaporeans staying in Australia, the States and some even in China. They bring along their families, if their postings are long. And, if the children are doing their secondary or post-secondary education, they very likely would enter the overseas universities as well. Now, this is where the question of NS would affect their choice - whether to return home, or to stay there and continue their tertiary education.

Now, if these overseas children enter the university, before the age of 17 1/2 years, then it is not a problem. But, sometimes, some students exceed the 17 1/2 years and are asked to come back to do NS. These students are prepared to do their NS after their university. Yet, their request for deferment cannot be acceded by MINDEF. So parents forgo their NS deposit to let their children continue to study. When the young graduate returns, he has to face MINDEF for not enlisting. Now, some choose not to come back for

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fear of going to jail and, thus, we lose a few good Singaporeans.

In the light of so many Singaporeans going overseas for work, and staying for some, I ask MINDEF to be more flexible in allowing deferment for some of these students. MINDEF insists that the students must be already studying at the university when he turns 17 1/2 years. An acceptance letter from the university is not sufficient for him to get deferment. If he is accepted to enter a university, he must be physically present in the university. Now, if the term starts, for example, when he is over 17 1/2 years, he would not get a deferment. If we continue to stick stubbornly to this administrative requirement, then we would lose some Singaporeans. And, if the attitude is that it is only a few, then we have to be very careful, because we have to ask ourselves whether we are prepared to trade-in these good Singaporeans with the less capable people entering into Singapore via our immigration policy. In other words, you are trading quantity for quality. So I call for a rethink on this.

Another category of deferment I am asking MINDEF to consider is somewhat similar to the above, except this time it involves a graduate who wants to do a Masters or a Ph.D. Many of our Singaporean students do well; however, some exceptionally well, and they are usually offered by the university to continue to do their Masters or even their Ph.D. But, again, this is not allowed by MINDEF. Unless these students are very special, MINDEF does not give an exemption. So I would like to ask who are these people who are given exemption, because Singaporeans are always calling for fairness.

The number of people that are given the opportunity by the university to do Masters, I do not think is very big. It

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must be quite small. But these are the very students we want them back. It is very simple. They are very bright students and, therefore, we should try to retain them. Some suggested to me that they should ask MINDEF to up the NS deposit. But I think that is not the right thing to do. I am thinking, if MINDEF softens its stand on this, the trade-off is goodwill and trust. Trust our people, do not prejudge, be less suspicious - and I am sure these students would return to do their NS. So I am asking the Minister to consider my request for deferment for some of these students.

Mr Chay Wai Chuen: Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether there have been any benchmark or yardstick studies with other armies on the general fitness of our SAF's operationally ready servicemen. I do not mean the evaluation of our army with other armies when they do joint or planning exercises. I mean the physical operational fitness as well as the competencies of the soldiers on the ground.

Mr Alexander Chan Meng Wah (Nominated Member): Sir, Mr Leong Horn Kee has the privilege which I do not have. His son has also finished NS. The only difference is that I do not have a son. I am still an active serving NSman on a volunteer basis. So when the little green flashing man flashes, I do have some duties that I have to pay attention to.

The SAF has provided a silent and effective deterrent to any potential aggressor. I think our capabilities have been well exemplified in the recent Aceh tsunami. But less discernible values are also the changes in the attractiveness of the SAF, in the sense that there is an increasing desirability of our sons in wanting to become officers. Operational readiness requires many important things to come together well - technology deployment, adequate training, proper

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doctrine, assessment of threat, good public acceptance of National Service, proper administration and the symbiotic relationship, professional relationship between the regular cadre and National Servicemen. Well, times are a-changing. Changes in geo-politics, new threat, growth of East Asia, business opportunities, smaller families and, therefore, fewer sons, new munitions, etc, all these have put new challenges on the SAF.

My question is: have some of these new challenges created a situation where MINDEF has to pay attention and study the possible changes in attitudes to our young men and, if so, what are those results? SAF has definitely become a more flexible operationally ready fighting force and, in some cases, also a non-fighting force. This requires more training. In fact, with the deployment of more sophisticated systems, training needs to be more integrated. I think the Minister earlier had said that in many situations, the reserve force performs just as well, if not, better than the NS units. So, the question is: what is MINDEF doing to address this possibility of the need for more training, and would the

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shortened NS liability require more talented NSmen to volunteer beyond statutory requirement?

The Chairman: Order. It is 6.45 pm.

Thereupon Mr Deputy Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2005/2006, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 7th March 2005.

Mr Deputy Speaker: So be it.